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RISC World

Creating a 3D Effect with a Neon Star

Richard Ashbery shows more Artworks techniques.

Introduction

I was going to start this tutorial off with a graphic based on perspective and 3D but changed my mind after looking at a shape that produced an excellent rendition of a star with a neon glow. What surprised me is that with a bit of effort ArtWorks makes a very good attempt at producing a realistic 3D effect and this is mainly attributed to the blend tool. A highlight can be added using the Intersect utility to complete the project.

Getting Started

Add the following colours to the colour bar(figure 1).


Fig 1

The Five Pointed Star

Create a 5 pointed star with the parameters shown in figure 2.


Fig 2

  1. Apply a fill colour of None.
  2. Adjust-click over the pink icon on colour bar.
  3. Use CTRL-F4 to set a width of 5 point.
  4. Clone star (CTRL-K) and colour its outline magenta. Set width to 20 point. Set to back (CTRL-B).
  5. Clone twice dragging one of the copies to one side for later use (this will be used in the section..... "Creating a Shadow").
  6. Re-select the other magenta clone, colour it purple, set width to 40 point and set to back.
  7. Clone the purple star setting colour to dark-blue and its width to 60 point, remembering to set it to back (figure 3).


Fig 3

Adding blends

Select the Blend tool and create a 10 step blend between each section as indicated by the arrows in the highly magnified illustration shown in figure 4.


Fig 4


Fig 5

Creating a Shadow

A clever graphic designer realised that a highlight can be derived from a shadow. Firstly we need to create two outlines from the star, produce the shadow and then use the Intersect tool to cut-out the shadow sections. It sounds complicated but in reality is quite simple.

  • Clone the magenta star (the one retained in figure 3) and make its outline colour black (Adjust-click on the colour black).
  • Set its width to 0.25.
  • With the Scale tool selected, drag any control point and resize to approximately follow the outer edge of the magenta star.
  • Clone again and drag outline this time to approximately follow the inner edge of the magenta star (figure 6 - A).
  • We have no further use for the magenta star so delete it.
  • Select the two star outline shapes and join them using CTRL-I (figure 6 - B).
  • Select-click on any colour to signify the new shape (coloured red in the illustration....... figure 6 - C). Set its outline to none by Adjust-clicking the None colour bar icon.
  • Clone the new shape and Select-click on say a light grey to signify a shadow.
  • Move the grey coloured clone to position shown (figure 6 - D) and press CTRL-B to send to back (figure 6 - E).


Fig 6 Shadow sequence

Creating the Highlight

  • Draw a rectangle to cover the star and its shadow. The illustration shows it coloured black but any colour will do (figure 7 - B).
  • Select all three shape and join them (CTRL-I) (figure 7 - C).
  • Clone the result.
  • Drag a selection box over the existing shape and clone (ensure the information bar reports that two shapes are selected in foreground) (figure 7 - D).
  • Invoke "Intersect all" by pressing CTRL-W.
  • Press CTRL-L to break the shapes (figure 7 - E).
  • Delete the rectangle to reveal the intersects (figure 7 - F).


Fig 7 Highlight sequence

Selecting and Grouping the Highlight Sections

  • Select the first shadow section with the 'Select mouse button' followed by subsequent 'Adjust-clicks' on the other 4 sections. Press CTRL-G to group them (figure 8).
  • Drag shadow section over the main drawing, change colour to white, resize if necessary and arrange to achieve a realistic highlight.


Fig 8 Select shadow/highlight sections

Finally

Draw a circle around the graphic applying a radial fill from purple to dark-blue. This will make the neon star really stand out emphasising the 3D effect as you can see in figure 9.


Fig 9

Richard Ashbery

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